Aikido - The Path of Harmony
The "ki" in Aikido means power. Every martial art studies how to deal with force and power, but what makes Aikido different is the way we deal with aggression by flowing with and channeling the attacker's force, using their own power to bring them under control.
Aikido develops strong physical and psychological balance and powerful technique. The goal is to bring the attacker under control with minimal force and injury while maintaining a calm and stable center.
Shoji Nishio was a leading student of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Nishio Sensei dedicated his over 50 year martial art career to maintaining the martial effectiveness at the heart of aikido that many in the aikido world have lost. His efforts resulted in successfully balancing the philosophical goals of aikido while maintaining the potent and practical side of the martial art.
It's common for Aikido teachers to completely eliminate the use of striking in their arts. This is where their art loses most of its real effectiveness. A martial art without stiking cannot hope to survive in a real situation. In Nishio Ryu Aikido vital point striking (called atemi) is seemlessly integrated into every movement.
Aikido comes from the martial tradition of the samurai. The empty hand techniques of Aikido arise directly from the use of the sword (katana). So it's impossible to truly understand Aikido without knowing the proper use of the sword. As you learn each technique you will also learn to perform the same technique with a sword and with a staff (jo).
Our training stands in stark contrast with some unfortunate trends in martial arts today some of which can be described as nothing less than sociopathic. A real martial artist is marked by humility and compassion. True martial art training is not brutal or narcissistic. It does not concern itself with awards and trophies or with creating "champions" or tournament fighters. What kind of dignified samurai would line his wall with trophies? A real martial artist is not a "fighter." True martial art is for stopping fights, not starting them. By definition anyone training to "fight" is not really doing martial art. The definition of budo, the Japanese word for "martial art," means "stop the attack." In a broader sense the roll of the true martial artist is to restore peace. Therefore, a true martial art would never glamorize violence. At the other end of the spectrum is the reduction of martial art to kick boxing or fitness classes. Physical conditioning is great, but kick boxing classes are not martial art training. It's the great goal of Nishio Ryu Aikido to stay true to instilling the spirit and values of traditional martial arts while addressing the realities of a modern world.
Aikido is a modern martial art, but it preserves the traditional values of Japanese bushido (warrior arts). Unlike a koryu or ancient martial art that slavishly preserves something of the past, Aikido is constantly evolving and growing. Nishio Ryu Aikido not only develops fine martial artists, but can enhance many areas of daily life, even at times when "defending yourself" isn't an issue.
Philip Greenwood, Sensei
Philip Greenwood is a doctor of chiropractic practicing for 20 years in Temecula and Murrieta. You can learn more about his practice at www.TheGreenwoodCenter.com.
"People who practice Aikido should be recognized as the best artists in the world. It is easy to create something good with good materials. However, we perform a martial art that is designed to destroy and kill people, which is something that people dislike. With these poor materials we cultivate a society of friendship and build peaceful minds, which people desire. Every Aikido technique has this heart."
~Shoji Nishio, Shihan [1927-2005]
Founder Nishio Ryu Aikido
